Creel

ABSTRACT

A creel includes an upstanding support structure having a plurality of horizontally extending, elongated track elements, spaced apart vertically and movable to selected positions vertically on the structure. Each track element is movable horizontally in track clamps. A plurality of brackets, each for supporting a single bobbin or yarn package, are each horizontally movable on one of the track elements by means of bracket clamps.

United States Patent [1 1 Glassbrook 1 CREEL [76] Inventor: Allan Glassbrook, 18 Fairfields,

Dumscar, off Darwen Rd., Bolton, Lancashire, England 22 Filed: Feb. 14,1972

21 App1.N0.:226,116

52 u.s.c1. 242/131, 242/154 51 Int. Cl B65h 49/02, D02h 1/00, D03j 5/08 [58] Field of Search 242/128, 131, 131.1, 147, 242/153, 154; 248/214, 226 R, 226 E, 228; 214/105; 66/125 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,011 8/1932 Hilscher 242/154 2,213,788 9/1940 Wainwright et a1. 242/l3l.l 2,437,344 3/1948 Behlmann 248/228 X 2,665,869 l/l954 Samuels 248/214 2,705,362 4/1955 Roughsedge 28/51 1 Jan.7,1975

3,347,064 10/1967 Forca 66/125 3,388,806 6/1968 Cunningham, Jr. et al. .1 211/13 3,461,691 8/1969 Ballard 66/125 3,568,951 3/1971 Neuberger et a1. 242/131 3,586,178 6/1971 Zurheide 214/105 3,664,602 5/1972 Renzi 242/131 3,674,223 7/1972 Philip .1 242/131 Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pearson & Pearson 6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED SHEET 2 OF 3 CREEL This invention relates to a creel, that is, a structure for supporting yarn-carrying bobbins or spools or selfsupporting yarn packages during unwinding of yarn therefrom.

A known form of creel comprises a rigid frame formed as part of a textile machine or located on a floor adjacent to such machine, provided with fixed spigots for receiving bobbins. The spigots are fixed at predetermined spaced positions so as to enable loaded bobbins having yarn packages of a predetermined size and shape to be accommodated with adjacent yarn packages adequately spaced to permit unwinding of yarn therefrom but without excessive wastage of available space. This arrangement has the disadvantage that it is not suitable for use with yarn packages of different sizes and shapes. A further disadvantage is that removal and replacement of bobbins is achieved by direct handling thereof which is inconvenient and may cause snagging of fine yarns.

According to the present invention there is provided a creel comprising a rigid support structure, and brackets for receiving yarn carrying bobbins or spools or self supporting yarn packages, the brackets being movably mountable on the support structure so as to be positionally adjustable.

With this arrangement it will be seen that the separation of adjacent brackets can be adjusted and therefore the creel is suitable for use with loaded bobbins or spools or self-supporting yarn packages of different sizes and shapes.

Each bracket may be provided with means for releasably locking same in portion when a desired separation of adjacent brackets has been attained. Further, each bracket may be detachably mountable on the support structure, this arrangement advantageously enabling a bobin or spool or yarn package to be manipulated by direct handling of the bracket and not of the bobbin or spool or yarn package itself.

Preferably, the support structure comprises one or more elongated elements, such as flanged beams, on which the brackets are longitudinally slidably mountable. Thus the support structure may comprise a plural ity of horizontally extending elongated elements disposed one above another.

Such element or elements may be movably mounted on a further part of the structure so as to be positionally adjustable.

Removal and mounting of bobbins on the elongated element or elements may be achieved in the vicinity of the creel by direct manipulation of individual bobbins or of individual bobbins together with their brackets. Alternatively, the element or elements may be detachably mounted relative to a further part of the support structure so as to enable an entire element or set of elements together with brackets and spent bobbins carried thereby to be lifted, for example by a gantry crane, upwardly away from the support structure and then transported to a reloading zone remote from the creel.

Alternatively, the or each elongated element may be in the form of a track, along which brackets with their bobbins can slide so that bobbins when spent can be easily moved from the unwinding location to a location at which they can be conveniently removed and replaced with fresh loaded bobbins. A particularly advantageous arrangement incorporates a track in the form of a closed loop and two sets of brackets. Yarn is unwound from bobbins on one set of brackets on one part of the track whilst loaded bobbins are mounted on the other set of brackets on a further part of the track. When the bobbins on the first set of brackets are spent the two sets are interchanged by moving the brackets around the track. A drive incorporating for example a motor and chain transmission may be used for posi tively driving the brackets around the track.

Each bracket may be provided with a locking device for locking a bobbin or spool on the bracket. Further for each bracket there may be provided a yarn guide which may be secured to the bracket so as to be bodily movable therewith or which may be permanently or de tachably mounted in an adjustable or non-adjustable manner on the support structure adjacent the bracket. There may also be provided for each bracket devices for detecting a break in the yarn and for arresting running of the yarn and giving warning when such break has been detected.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of creel according to the invention carrying loaded bobbins;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. I of one bracket and bobbin of the embodiment of FIG. I;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of alternative forms of brackets for use with the creel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a modified part of the creel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, on line 6-6 of FIG. 1, of a yarn guide for use with the creel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view, in section on line 77 of FIG. 1, of an electrical bus-bar for use with the creel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a bracket and guide eye of the invention freely slidable on a portion of a continuous loop of track.

FIG. 1 shows a creel comprising a rigid support structure made up of fixed upright posts I and two pairs of horizontally extending vertically spaced I-beams 2, 3. The pairs are disposed respectively in front of and behind the posts 1 with the beams of one pair respectively adjacent and parallel to the beams of the other pair. Brackets 4 are mounted on each beam, only the brackets on the front pair of beams being shown for the sake of clarity.

As is shown more clearly in FIG. 2 each beam 2, 3 is secured to the posts I by means of a connecting block 5 fixed to each post 1, and upper and lower angle-irons 6, 7, forming a spaced apart, open pair of jaws which grip therebetween a flange 8 of the beam 2 and the block 5. The upper angle-iron 6 is welded to the block 5 and the lower angle iron 7 is secured to the block 5 by means of a screw 9 whereby the beam 2 can be detached from the block 5 by removal of the screw 9 and the lower angle iron 7.

Each bracket 4 is a generally U-shaped member and is mounted on a beam 2 with its limbs vertically spaced. As shown in FIG. 2 the upper limb of a bracket is mounted on the other flange 10 of the beam 2 by means of a further connecting block 11 which is secured to the upper limb of the bracket, and upper and lower angleirons l2, 13 which grip therebetween the flanges of the beam 2 and the block 11, the upper angle-iron 12 being welded to the block 11 and the lower angle-iron 13 being screwed to the block 11. The angle-irons 12, 13 grip the flange 10 only loosely so that the block 11 with the bracket can slide along the flange 10 and can be moved through a small distance vertically. A screw 14 is passed through a threaded bore in the block 11 for engagement with the flange 10 of the beam 2 so that by tightening the screw 14 against the flange 10 the block 11 can be locked at a desired position on the beam 2. The lower limb of the bracket 4 is provided with a shoulder 15 and a locking device comprising a pivotally mounted clip 15a and an operating lever 16 whereby the lower limb of the bracket can be locked to a bobbin 17. The bobbin 17 shown in FIG. 2 carriesa yarn package 18. If desired, and as is known in the art, the package may be enclosed in a protective casing.

A rod 19 is rigidly secured to the block 11 and extends horizontally therefrom and parallel to the axis of the bobbin 17. The rod 19 has at its end remote from the block 11 a wire 20 which extends in front of the bobbin 17 and carries a yarn guiding and tensioning device 21. Such yarn guiding and tensioning device, as shown in FIG. 6, comprises two discs 22, 23 mounted next to each other on a common axle 24. The confronting faces of the discs are provided respectively with indentations 25 and projections 26. The projections 26 engage the indentations 25 so as to act to prevent relative rotation of the two discs; however, the ridges of the indentations are sufficiently resilient as to enable such relative rotation to be effected in a step-wise manner if sufficient force is applied to the discs. With this arrangement the two discs can be pre-set to a predetermined relative angular disposition. One of the discs 22 is secured to the end of the wire 20 and the other disc 23 has on its outer face two sets of holes 27, each set being disposed spirally. Two ceramic pins 48 and 49 are inserted in two of the holes 27, such holes being selected in accordance with the desired spacing of the pins.

In use, and as shown in FIG. I, loaded bobbins are mounted on the brackets 4 such that the bobbins are disposed in two vertically spaced horizontal rows, with the bobbins of one row offset relative to the bobbins of the other row. The positions of the brackets 4 are adjusted such that the separation of adjacent brackets is as small as possible in accordance with the size and shape of the yarn package 18 carried by the bobbins 17. The yarn from each bobbin passes around the pins of the associated yarn guiding and tensioning device, the tension in the yarn being adjustable by adjustment of the angular disposition of the disc 23 carrying the pins.

With this arrangement it will be seen that the creel structure can be readily adapted to suit different yarn packages. Thus for example the same creel structure could be used with packages of fine nylon yarn and with packages of heavy industrial yarn, for example, glass fibre yarn. If desired, the arrangement may incorporate a warning system (not shown) whereby a breakage in yarn drawn from a bobbin actuates a mechanism which cuts the yarn adjacent to the bobbin and operates a warning light mounted on the creel structure adjacent the appropriate bobbin. Conveniently, electrical power may be fed to such warning system by means of bus-bars 50 fitting between the opposite flanges 51 and 52 of the I-beams. As shown in FIG. 7 such bus-bar may comprise two conductors 28 spaced apart by wooden blocks 29 enclosed within an insulating plastics casing 30 sockets 31 being provided at appropriate intervals along the length of the bus-bar.

In the embodiment described above when a bobbin is spent it may be removed manually from its bracket and replaced with a loaded bobbin, or alternatively, the bracket may be disconnected from the I-beam and the bobbin removed together with its bracket and replaced with a further bracket carrying a fresh loaded bobbin whereby direct handling of the bobbin itself can be minimized.

In a modification of the embodiment described above each bracket 4 is detachably mounted on its associated connecting block 11 by means of a spigot on the bracket which engages a horizontal bore in the connecting block. With this arrangement mounting and removal of a bracket together with a bobbin is facilitated. The bracket may have secured thereto a handle to enable the bracket to be easily handled.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative form of a bracket for use with the embodiment described above. Such alternative bracket has a lower limb 32 on which a bobbin or spool is mounted, such limb having an upturned end 33 for retaining the bobbin or spool in position, and an upper limb 34 which has at its free end a wire 35 carrying the yarn guiding and tensioning device 21. Connection of the bracket to an I-beam is achieved by means of two angle-irons 36, 37 one of which 36 is secured to the bracket and overlies the top edge of a flange of the beam and the other of which 37 is bolted to the first angle-iron 36 so as to fit against the lower edge of the flange. In use, therefore, the flange of the beam is clamped between the two angle-irons. By loosening the bolts holding the two angle-irons together the bracket can be moved to a desired position along the beam and when in such position by tightening the bolts the bracket can be locked in position. By removal of the bolt and the lower angle iron the bracket can be readily removed from the I-beam.

FIG. 4 shows a further alternative form of the bracket which comprises a rod 38 on which a bobbin or spool is mounted and an arrangement of two angle-irons 36, 37 at one end of the rod for connecting the rod to an I-beam, which arrangement is similar to that described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 3. The bracket does not carry a yarn guide, a common yarn guide or arrangement of yarn guides being provided for several brackets on the support structure adjacent such brackets.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative method of connecting the I-beam 2, 3 to the upright posts 1. A pair of channelshaped clips 39 are provided respectively in front of and behind a post. The clips each fit half way round the post and are bolted together so as to enclose the post therebetween. A slot is provided in the web and adjacent portions of the flanges of each clip for receiving a flange of an I beam. With this arrangement when the clips are tightly bolted together the two I-beams are securely clamped against the front and rear sides of the post. By loosening the bolts the I-beams can be positionally adjusted longitudinally and also vertically.

In a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the creel structure includes in addition to the I-beam arrangement of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 to 7, an additional elongated element 40 for each I-beam, a closed track part of which extends beneath and adjacent to the associated I-beam 2. There is provided for each bobbin a rod 19 carrying a yarn guide and tensioning device 21 which is mounted on the I-beam 2 in a positionally adjustable manner as for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, but the associated bracket 4, is not mounted on the I-beam but is slidably mounted on the associated track 40.

With this arrangement it will be seen that spent bobbins need not be individually and manually removed and replaced at the unwinding location but can be moved along the track to a further position at which they can be removed and replaced. Preferably the arrangement is such that a yarn is being drawn from bobbins on one set of brackets at one position on the track, loaded bobbins are mounted on a further set of brackets at another position on the track and then the two sets of brackets are moved around the track to inter change their positions.

It will be seen that with this arrangement direct handling of the bobbins is minimized and speedy and efficient operation is facilitated.

A drive operated by an electrical motor and a chain transmission (not shown) may be provided for positively driving the brackets along the tracks.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not illus trated) the creel structue is largely similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 except that the I-beams are mounted on a rigid frame which is detachably mounted on a fixed supporting framework. With this arrangement when the bobbins are spent the entire frame with the bobbins is lifted from the supporting framework by means of a gantry crane and transported to a convenient location at which the spent bobbins are replaced with fresh loaded bobbins. Whilst a frame car rying spent bobbins is being removed a further frame previously loaded with fresh bobbins may be lifted into positions on the supporting framework.

With this arrangement direct manual handling of the individual bobbins is minimized and speedy and efficient operation is facilitated.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8 the creel comprises a fixed post l to which are secured vertically spaced horizontally extending transverse supports 41. On each support 41 there is mounted a horizontally extending I-beam 2, such beams being disposed vertically one above another. The beams are positionally adjustable longitudinally and also in the perpendicular horizontal direction. The supports 41 are positionally adjustable on the fixed post whereby the beams are also positionally adjustable vertically.

Brackets 4 are mounted on the beams, each bracket being in the form of a circular tray 42, for supporting a self-supporting yarn package 43 with the axis of such package vertical. The tray 42 may have a central felt washer 44 secured thereto for location of such yarn package. The tray is mounted on the Ibeam by means of angle-irons 45 which grip a flange of the I-beam in such a manner that the bracket is positionally adjustable longitudinally of the I-beam.

A yarn guide 46 for each bracket depends from the next highest support.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9 a central fixed support 1 has vertically spaced horizontally extending transverse supports 41 secured thereto. Each transverse support 41 carries at the two ends thereof two I-beams 2. Each I-beam is provided with brackets 4 for supporting a pair of self-supporting yarn packages 43. The brack ets are similar to those described in connection with FIG. 8 except that the trays are inclined such that the axes of each pair of yarn packages are aligned with a point in the region of the central support I below the next highest transverse support 41. A yarn guide 46 is provided at or near such point. The brackets are positionally adjustable on the I-beams and the I-beams and transverse supports may also be positionally adjustable.

I claim:

1. A creel comprising:

a rigid support structure including at least one upright post; a plurality of elongated elements; clamp means mounted on the post and supporting said elements to extend horizontally thereof, each said clamp means being movable longitudinally of the post in a vertical direction; and each said element being movable horizontally in said clamp means;

a plurality of brackets for receiving yarn carrying bobbins, spools or self-supporting yarn packages, each said bracket being mountable on one of said elongated elements at a position spaced vertically and horizontally from adjacent brackets and said brackets being bodily movable horizontally along said elongated elements;

and bracket clamp means including a pair of clamping jaws for locking the brackets on said element,

whereby the spacing of said brackets can be adjusted vertically and horizontally relative to each other.

2. A creel according to claim 1 wherein the elongated elements are I-beams having opposite flanges and the creel has associated therewith electrical devices for the detection of yarn breakage and a bus-bar mounted on the support structure for supplying electrical power to the devices, the bus-bar fitting between the flanges of one of the I-beams.

3. A creel comprising:

a rigid upstanding support structure;

a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending, elongated, continous track elements on said support structure track clamps supporting said track elements for horizontal sliding movement on said structure, said track clamps being vertically positionable on said structure; and

a plurality of brackets, each adapted to support a yam-carrying member, each said bracket including bracket clamp means engaging one of said track elements for enabling slidable movement of said bracket horizontally therealong and for clamping said bracket in fixed position therealong.

4. A creel as specified in claim. 3 wherein each said track element is an I-beam having opposite flanges, one said flange is slidably received in said track clamps and the other said flange is slidably received in said bracket clamps means.

5. A creel as specified in claim 3 wherein said track clamps each comprise a pair of oppositely disposed channel shaped clips adapted to be clamped around a vertical member of said rigid structure and each having a slot for slidably receiving one of said track elements.

6. A creel as specified on claim 3 wherein:

each said track element is of Il-beam cross section with opposite flanges, said track clamps each include a pair of spaced angle, iron, open jaws hooked on one said flange, and said bracket clamp means includes a pair of spaced angle, iron, open jaws on each said bracket hooked on the other said flange;

one said jaw being movable toward and away from the other jaw of the pair for clamping or for complete disengagement. 

1. A creel comprising: a rigid support structure including at least one upright post; a plurality of elongated elements; clamp means mounted on the post and supporting said elements to extend horizontally thereof, each said clamp means being movable longitudinally of the post in a vertical direction; and each said element being movable horizontally in said clamp means; a plurality of brackets for receiving yarn-carrying bobbins, spools or self-supporting yarn packages, each said bracket being mountable on one of said elongated elements at a position spaced vertically and horizontally from adjacent brackets and said brackets being bodily movable horizontally along said elongated elements; and bracket clamp means including a pair of clamping jaws for locking the brackets on said element, whereby the spacing of said brackets can be adjusted vertically and horizontally relative tO each other.
 2. A creel according to claim 1 wherein the elongated elements are I-beams having opposite flanges and the creel has associated therewith electrical devices for the detection of yarn breakage and a bus-bar mounted on the support structure for supplying electrical power to the devices, the bus-bar fitting between the flanges of one of the I-beams.
 3. A creel comprising: a rigid upstanding support structure; a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending, elongated, continous track elements on said support structure track clamps supporting said track elements for horizontal sliding movement on said structure, said track clamps being vertically positionable on said structure; and a plurality of brackets, each adapted to support a yarn-carrying member, each said bracket including bracket clamp means engaging one of said track elements for enabling slidable movement of said bracket horizontally therealong and for clamping said bracket in fixed position therealong.
 4. A creel as specified in claim 3 wherein each said track element is an I-beam having opposite flanges, one said flange is slidably received in said track clamps and the other said flange is slidably received in said bracket clamps means.
 5. A creel as specified in claim 3 wherein said track clamps each comprise a pair of oppositely disposed channel shaped clips adapted to be clamped around a vertical member of said rigid structure and each having a slot for slidably receiving one of said track elements.
 6. A creel as specified on claim 3 wherein: each said track element is of I-beam cross section with opposite flanges, said track clamps each include a pair of spaced angle, iron, open jaws hooked on one said flange, and said bracket clamp means includes a pair of spaced angle, iron, open jaws on each said bracket hooked on the other said flange; one said jaw being movable toward and away from the other jaw of the pair for clamping or for complete disengagement. 